North India Highlights

See the highlights of north India, including Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Varanasi

Visit India and explore the highlights of the north on this adventure tour from Delhi to Varanasi. Discover the 'Pink City' of Jaipur, witness the Mughal splendours of Delhi and Agra, and soak up the ambience of holy Varanasi. This wonderful introduction to the magic of India includes lavish palaces, vibrant bazaars, Bollywood blockbusters and the incomparable Taj Mahal. Packed with highlights, take time to discover the beating heart of India.

Itinerary

Welcome to India. Arrive in Delhi and take your complimentary airport transfer to the hotel. You adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you'll meet your tour leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, make sure to get out and explore this exciting capital. Filled with historical sites from different eras, museums and galleries, shops and endless bazaars, there’s much to see and do.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer

Optional Activities

Delhi - Gandhi's Delhi Urban Adventure - INR2700

Delhi - City Food Crawl Urban Adventure - INR3500

Delhi - Home-Cooked Experience Urban Adventure - INR4000

Meals Included

There are no meals included on this day.

Special Information

If you can't arrange a flight that will have you arrive in time for today's welcome meeting, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please have these on hand.

After breakfast, your tour leader will take you to the city’s historic heart with a guided walking tour of Old Delhi. Set off on the city's modern metro system, then get a taste of India's famed public transport with an optional cycle rickshaw ride through chaotic streets, such as the famous Chandni Chowk. Make a visit to the Jama Masjid, Delhi's oldest mosque and one of its most impressive buildings, then visit the Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) to learn about the Sikh religion. The rest of the day is free for further exploration or maybe to join an Urban Adventure (booked locally). Perhaps visit the World Heritage-listed Mughal masterpiece of Humayun's Tomb, the first garden tomb in India, built in 1570. Wonder at the tall brick minaret of Qutub Minar, which was started all the way back in the 12th-century, or explore the mighty Red Fort of Delhi. Part palace and part fort, it played an integral part in the history of the city with former residents ranging from royal families to British soldiers.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Delhi - Old Delhi walking tour

Delhi - Jama Masjid

Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)

Optional Activities

Delhi - Humayun's Tomb - INR500

Delhi - Qutub Minar - INR500

Meals Included

Farewell Delhi’s hypnotising chaos this morning and set off for Agra, home to one of the world’s most recognisable monuments. Get a taste of India’s rail system with an express train journey to Agra (approx 2 hours). The best way to uncover Agra is by cycle rickshaw, so after arriving you’ll be taken on a rickshaw tour of the city. You’ll visit the spectacular Taj Mahal. Best known as a monument to love and loss, the 17th-century Taj is a beautiful example of Mughal architecture, surrounded by trimmed English gardens. Agra is also home to one of the finest looking forts in India. Enter the dark red sandstone stronghold of Agra Fort – part fortress, part palace and part prison – and search through throne rooms and tiny but incredibly decorated mosques. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you please. A visit to Sheroes Cafe, which employs women who have been affected by acid attacks, is highly recommended.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Agra - Taj Mahal

Agra - Agra Fort

Meals Included

Head to Jaipur, Rajasthan's capital, by private vehicle (approximately 6 hours). Get your first glimpse of the Pink City and its trademark building colour on a walking tour. Navigate crowded streets packed with cars, camel carts, rickshaws, trucks, and bicycles, past traditionally dressed Rajput men wearing colourful turbans and sporting magnificent moustaches, while observing the city’s intricate architecture. Visit a bazaar to browse handcrafted textiles, folk art, and the local specialty of semi-precious stones. Make a photo stop at India's most photographed building after the Taj Mahal, the Hawa Mahal or 'Palace of the Winds'. You have the option of also visiting Jantar Mantar, an observatory filled with instruments to track the stars, built by the founder of Jaipur, Maharaja Jai Singh. This evening, continue to indulge in the wonders of Indian culture by watching a Bollywood blockbuster Cinema – an elaborate combination of action romance, drama and music – at the spectacular Raj Mandir

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Jaipur - Walking tour

Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema

Optional Activities

Jaipur - Jantar Mantar Observatory - INR200

Meals Included

An optional early morning hot air balloon experience won’t disappoint – wake early for a breathtaking overhead view of the Pink City bathed in early morning light. (For additional information about this optional excursion, please see the important notes section of your trip notes). Later, climb the twisting roads of the Aravalli Hills and round the final bend to see the massive Amber Fort loom into view. The legacy of a fallen empire, the opulent palace is a superb example of Rajput architecture and is packed with elaborate rooms of lavish murals, frescoed arches and delicate jali work. Don’t miss the sparkling Mirror Palace, covered floor-to-ceiling in thousands of reflective tiles, the hall becomes a dazzling fantasy with the light of a single match. The rest of the day is free to explore more of Jaipur that you might have missed yesterday.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Jaipur - Amber Fort

Optional Activities

Jaipur - Balloon Safari - USD250

Meals Included

Arrive in the holy centre of Varanasi in the morning after a short flight from Jaipur. Varanasi is awash with shrines and temples, and the ultimate destination for Hindu pilgrims who travel from far and wide to experience this spiritual city. Take a walking tour of the old city, through narrow laneways packed with stalls and shops, past the dhobi wallahs, and the endless temples that echo with bells and the pungent aroma of incense. This evening soak up the unique atmosphere of a candle flower ceremony.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Varanasi - Old City tour

Varanasi - Sunset candle ceremony

Meals Included

Today starts early with a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges, where you can watch the light gradually illuminate the many ghats and temples along the river as you pass. There is an option to take a trip to nearby Sarnath, one of the four main Buddhist pilgrimage destinations. The site is where Buddha preached his message of the path to enlightenment and features a number of stupas and museums to explore. Alternatively the day can be spent exploring the laneways and alleys behind the ghats, or picking up some examples of the excellent local silk industry. Perhaps witness pilgrims performing ancient bathing rituals and ceremonies as your time in this sacred city comes to an end.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Varanasi - Sunrise boat trip

Optional Activities

Varanasi - Sarnath day trip (entry only) - INR250

Meals Included

Use a free morning to delve further into the spiritual atmosphere of Varanasi, wander through the ghats or perhaps haggle with vendors in colourful bazaars. Return to Delhi by plane (about 1.5 hours) for a last chance to explore India's capital. Perhaps head to the legendary Connaught Place for some last-minute shopping. This evening, why not share one last meal with your group to reminisce about your travels before the trip come to an end.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

Your journey comes to an end after breakfast. There are no other activities planned for the day and you can depart the accommodation at any this morning. For those who wish to stay on in Delhi to further explore the city, we are happy to help in booking accommodation (subject to availability). If you have time, Hauz Khas village is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Delhi – a chic artistic enclave set right next to the remnants of a historical site. Or maybe pre-book an Urban Adventure to further explore Delhi with a knowledgeable local.

Optional Activities

Delhi - Culture Vulture Urban Adventure - INR2500

Meals Included

Breakfast

Inclusions

Meals

8 breakfasts,
1 dinner

Transport

Auto rickshaw,
Boat,
Cycle rickshaw,
Metro,
Plane,
Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights)

Included activities

Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer

Delhi - Old Delhi walking tour

Delhi - Jama Masjid

Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)

Agra - Taj Mahal

Agra - Agra Fort

Jaipur - Walking tour

Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema

Jaipur - Amber Fort

Varanasi - Old City tour

Varanasi - Sunset candle ceremony

Varanasi - Sunrise boat trip

Meals

8 breakfasts,
1 dinner

Transport

Auto rickshaw,
Boat,
Cycle rickshaw,
Metro,
Plane,
Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights)

Included activities

Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer

Delhi - Old Delhi walking tour

Delhi - Jama Masjid

Delhi - Sheeshganj Gurudwara (Sikh Temple)

Agra - Taj Mahal

Agra - Agra Fort

Jaipur - Walking tour

Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema

Jaipur - Amber Fort

Varanasi - Old City tour

Varanasi - Sunset candle ceremony

Varanasi - Sunrise boat trip

Dates & availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available on this trip and is valid for all nights on tour.
2. An airport arrival transfer is included. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking.
3. Hot air balloon flights are operated by Sky Waltz in Jaipur. Flights operate mornings from September to June and morning and evening from September to March. Morning flights depart around sunrise and evening flights late afternoon and last 60 mins. Return transfers, tea and coffee plus light refreshments and a certificate of flight are included in the cost. You can register your interest and pay your tour leader at your joining meeting on day 1 of your trip. Payment must be made by cash in either INR/AUD/USD/GBP only and is USD$250pp (subject to change). Flights are subject to weather conditions and tickets are fully refundable in case of poor weather.
4. Using mud pack therapy the Archaeological Survey of India is planning to clean the four small canopies around the main dome of the Taj Mahal from the start of April 2018. This will be followed by the cleaning of the main dome but that could take some time as ASI is yet to calculate its load bearing capacity. The ASI’s science branch officials have stated that cleaning the four canopies will take approximately 2 months while main dome cleaning will be completed in phases. We will continue to update as information becomes available.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Alexandra Ho

Suzanne Wise

We typically opt for tours in places that we feel may be difficult for us to navigate ourselves. We are exceptionally pleased with the choice to do so for our trip to India. We were able to see a lot in a short period of time, in a safe, comfortable and protected environment. Although we felt protected from having to navigate a lot of transport and other issues, it did detract from our feeling of enjoying some of the true local culture.

Review submitted 08 Apr 2018

North India Highlights trip reviews

Our North India Highlights trips score an average of 4.78 out of 5
based on 114 reviews in the last year.